Critical Incident Stress Management

CISM Teams Can Help Emergency Workers Deal With Stress

ICSF Training Courses

Change in CISM Program Responsibilities

Sixteen state recognized Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Teams provide critical support to Virginia’s emergency services community.

The teams work with individuals or groups of emergency medical services, fire and police personnel who may suffer from stress after being involved in a critical incident. Team members provide pre-incident education and post-incident defusing, demobilization and debriefing.

Examples of critical incidents are:

• Suicides
• Injury or death of an emergency worker
• Prolonged events
• Injury or death of children
• Mass casualty incidents
• Threats to emergency worker’s safety
• Natural disasters

The constant intake of stress or encountering a highly stressful event can cause the emergency service professional to suffer stress reaction symptoms. These symptoms may include:

A debriefing should be requested if stress symptoms continue beyond the first 48-72 hours of the incident. Overwhelming stress symptoms usually occur in the first 24-48 hours following a critical incident. If you or your agency is in need of CISM Team assistance, please contact your area's team. CISM brochures are available from the Office of EMS.

For more information on CISM contact Karen Owens at (804) 612-3937.

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